Thailand Trip Report
Apr 27th, 2006, 08:09 PM
#21
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Hongs by Starlight:
We were picked up by van with others from hotel going on tour, and drove for an hour to pier where we had a few minutes to buy suncreen (we had used all our sunscreen by this point - reminder: take HEAPS), and one of those tourist headscarves. Cheaper than Kata. Walked down a long pier in very hot sun to the boat. It was easy to get on the boat - I am not that stable on my feet (always falling over) but it was easy and the guys helped us all on with no fuss.
The boat was filled with about 20 or so guests and we launched off. The guide gave us all a drink and told us how the day would progress. We immediately settled ourselves in on the quite comfortable boat (except toilets but I'll go into that later) for a 45 minute ride to our first destination. The view was gorgeous and we were lucky enough to be visited by eagles who flew around the back of the boat for much of the trip. Huge hongs and islands scattered across the Phang Nga bay. The water is only 2-3 metres deep and it is a muddy bottom so the water is not as clear as Phi Phi. However it looked beautiful to me - green in colour and warm to touch.
We got to our 1st destination and got into our canoe with our guide for the day. Our guide looked after us and our daughter so very very well. He kept asking us to eat and drink more and we were surprised by the attention. The four of us got into the canoe after some rocking and squeals of "I cant get in ... dont let me fall" (that was my husband). Our guide paddled us around for a while and we entered the first hong by laying down in the boat. It was stupendously beautiful. We took lots and lots of photos and I wished I had not bought the headscarf on the wharf coz I really look silly. One of my friends recently remarked it made me look like a pirate.
We entered the beautiful lagoon inside the hong which was surrounded by stunning nature, palms and other tropical fauna. We saw monkeys playing on the hongs and on the National wildlife beaches during the day. There are thousands of crabs on the cliffs which you will see if you go on this tour.
We spent the day on and off the boat; paddling around the hongs and Phang Nga bay. We had a very nice lunch and dinner was fabulous (another one of the best in Thailand). We had a chance to paddle our own canoe which is much harder than it looks. We paddled out to a small beach for a swim and on the way back the tide turned and waves rose a bit higher. I became a backseat driver at this point & an expert canoeist. My husband tolerated all the advice quite well. Back on the boat we had a swim. Some of the guides were jumping off the second story of the boat into the water which was fun. Our guide paddled with Miss 3 who fell in love with him. He has a few children and was excellent with her. Our Engish friends had trouble getting back to the boat as the young girl refused to paddle. Mum got cranky with her and it was quite funny. My husband swam out to them to help them back. Then the guides had to go out to save him. Everyone had such a great time and the people on the boat started making friends despite language/cultural differences. Hard to share such a mystical experience without letting down the barriers and reaching out to others.
It was a beautiful day and at dusk when we were about to go out on our last paddle our daughter got a high fever. I was quite worried as I could feel her temperature rising. I had forgotten the baby paracetemol (she had been so well my radar had gone on the blink). We didnt really know what was wrong. Everyone went out on their last paddle to see the hongs by starlight while I sat in the cabin panicking over my girl. She fell asleep as the fever rose and the guides returned early as they were concerned about her and wanted to get her quickly back to shore. Our guide stayed in the cabin with me holding her hand and wiping her down with a wet,cool cloth. I was dreadfully worried and my husband kept telling me she would be fine.
We got back to the hotel an hour or so later and I was able to get some baby paracetemol into her. She bounced back within 30 minutes (literally bouncing on the bed for the next couple of hours). I put my panic and myself to bed and woke during the night as she had an ear infection. We found quite a few kids in the hotel got an ear infection : suspected from the hotel pool. Bit of a saga with the hotel doctor but she was fine after a large bill and lots of medication. Bit of advice - go to the Phuket hospital - lot cheaper and they have Paediatricians. Anyway the hotel were great and gave us a free fruit basket and other treats which I will re-tell later.
Kids on holiday! Next time I will take the ear ointment and pack paracetemol for every tour. You live and learn.
Cheers and will post again.
Dy
We were picked up by van with others from hotel going on tour, and drove for an hour to pier where we had a few minutes to buy suncreen (we had used all our sunscreen by this point - reminder: take HEAPS), and one of those tourist headscarves. Cheaper than Kata. Walked down a long pier in very hot sun to the boat. It was easy to get on the boat - I am not that stable on my feet (always falling over) but it was easy and the guys helped us all on with no fuss.
The boat was filled with about 20 or so guests and we launched off. The guide gave us all a drink and told us how the day would progress. We immediately settled ourselves in on the quite comfortable boat (except toilets but I'll go into that later) for a 45 minute ride to our first destination. The view was gorgeous and we were lucky enough to be visited by eagles who flew around the back of the boat for much of the trip. Huge hongs and islands scattered across the Phang Nga bay. The water is only 2-3 metres deep and it is a muddy bottom so the water is not as clear as Phi Phi. However it looked beautiful to me - green in colour and warm to touch.
We got to our 1st destination and got into our canoe with our guide for the day. Our guide looked after us and our daughter so very very well. He kept asking us to eat and drink more and we were surprised by the attention. The four of us got into the canoe after some rocking and squeals of "I cant get in ... dont let me fall" (that was my husband). Our guide paddled us around for a while and we entered the first hong by laying down in the boat. It was stupendously beautiful. We took lots and lots of photos and I wished I had not bought the headscarf on the wharf coz I really look silly. One of my friends recently remarked it made me look like a pirate.
We entered the beautiful lagoon inside the hong which was surrounded by stunning nature, palms and other tropical fauna. We saw monkeys playing on the hongs and on the National wildlife beaches during the day. There are thousands of crabs on the cliffs which you will see if you go on this tour.
We spent the day on and off the boat; paddling around the hongs and Phang Nga bay. We had a very nice lunch and dinner was fabulous (another one of the best in Thailand). We had a chance to paddle our own canoe which is much harder than it looks. We paddled out to a small beach for a swim and on the way back the tide turned and waves rose a bit higher. I became a backseat driver at this point & an expert canoeist. My husband tolerated all the advice quite well. Back on the boat we had a swim. Some of the guides were jumping off the second story of the boat into the water which was fun. Our guide paddled with Miss 3 who fell in love with him. He has a few children and was excellent with her. Our Engish friends had trouble getting back to the boat as the young girl refused to paddle. Mum got cranky with her and it was quite funny. My husband swam out to them to help them back. Then the guides had to go out to save him. Everyone had such a great time and the people on the boat started making friends despite language/cultural differences. Hard to share such a mystical experience without letting down the barriers and reaching out to others.
It was a beautiful day and at dusk when we were about to go out on our last paddle our daughter got a high fever. I was quite worried as I could feel her temperature rising. I had forgotten the baby paracetemol (she had been so well my radar had gone on the blink). We didnt really know what was wrong. Everyone went out on their last paddle to see the hongs by starlight while I sat in the cabin panicking over my girl. She fell asleep as the fever rose and the guides returned early as they were concerned about her and wanted to get her quickly back to shore. Our guide stayed in the cabin with me holding her hand and wiping her down with a wet,cool cloth. I was dreadfully worried and my husband kept telling me she would be fine.
We got back to the hotel an hour or so later and I was able to get some baby paracetemol into her. She bounced back within 30 minutes (literally bouncing on the bed for the next couple of hours). I put my panic and myself to bed and woke during the night as she had an ear infection. We found quite a few kids in the hotel got an ear infection : suspected from the hotel pool. Bit of a saga with the hotel doctor but she was fine after a large bill and lots of medication. Bit of advice - go to the Phuket hospital - lot cheaper and they have Paediatricians. Anyway the hotel were great and gave us a free fruit basket and other treats which I will re-tell later.
Kids on holiday! Next time I will take the ear ointment and pack paracetemol for every tour. You live and learn.
Cheers and will post again.
Dy
Apr 28th, 2006, 04:37 PM
#22
Join Date: Feb 2003
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Dy,
We were in Thailand for 3 weeks in April, just got back last Saturday. We were in BKK, Sukhothai, CM and Koh Samui.
I am really enjoying your trip report... and you are motivating me to get with it and post ours too!
Darcie
We were in Thailand for 3 weeks in April, just got back last Saturday. We were in BKK, Sukhothai, CM and Koh Samui.
I am really enjoying your trip report... and you are motivating me to get with it and post ours too!
Darcie
